Norris puts in statement lap for pole position, Piastri only eighth

After the first flying laps in Q3, Leclerc was in the lead, but Norris produced a mighty second run to snatch pole position. His championship rivals, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri, finished fifth and eighth, respectively.

Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton completed the top three, with George Russell taking fourth to round out the second row. Kimi Antonelli set the sixth-fastest time for Mercedes.

Carlos Sainz was the lead Williams driver in seventh place. Isack Hadjar was the second quickest driver from the Red Bull family and finished ninth. Haas youngster Oliver Bearman drove an impressive session, but set only the tenth fastest time in Q3.

Piastri felt something was odd with his power unit in Turn 5 on his first lap in Q2. The Australian was on the edge of getting eliminated, but eventually set the seventh fastest time.

Yuki Tsunoda once again failed to make it through to the final session on Saturday, finishing 11th. Together with the Japanese driver, Esteban Ocon, Nico Hulkenberg, two-time world champion Fernando Alonso and Liam Lawson were eliminated.

Thanks to significant track evolution, the final laps determined which drivers would make it through to Q2 in Mexico City.

Antonelli narrowly avoided elimination in Q1, finishing 15th, after Alexander Albon failed to improve on his final attempt. Along with the Williams driver, Gabriel Bortoleto, both Alpine drivers and Lance Stroll were knocked out.

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